[Survival of patients after combined treatment for rectal cancer]

The analysis of end results of treatment of rectal cancer showed combined therapy to assure long survival in the whole group of radically operated cases, viz. two-third of them survived 10 years. Conversely, mean survival of non-operated or surgically palliated patients was as low as 10.1 and 26.7 months, respectively. Survival of radically operated cases was found to be related to various clinico-anatomic factors, the most close relationship being observed for extent, histology and growth pattern of tumor and regional nodal status. The influence of site and surgical procedure on patient survival proved far less significant.